Although Christmas is still seven weeks away, Kilgetty's Peter Thomas is already well into the swing of the festive season. For the village's own Mr. Christmas has been braving all weathers since the beginning of October to put up his amazing Yuletide illuminations and decorations outside his house. Peter and his wife Audrey, whose home, 1 St. Mary's Place, was voted the best decorated house in Britain by GMTV viewers in 2004, will be officially switching on their winter wonderland display on Saturday, November 25. But while this year's extravaganza is sure to bring a ray of sunshine during the winter nights, it is tinged with sadness, as this will be the last year their house will be decked out in all its fairylight glory, for Peter has decided to retire. "I do feel awfully sad that I won't be putting up the lights next year," said Peter, who has already put up 280 sets of lights, plus many of the seasonal motifs and figures. "I have another 200 sets to go and only three weeks left," said Peter, who admits he has found it a lot harder this year as he has been suffereing with a bad foot and going up and down ladders has been particularly difficult. "I do feel very down about it, but I have always said that I would retire when I was 70, which will be next June," he continued. "It is only Audrey and I that will be stopping putting up our lights; hopefully our neighbours will continue," Peter added. Huge crowds of people have flocked to Kilgetty to see the lights since the couple first decorated their home 25 years ago, since when their neighbours have joined in the festive fun, too. Six years ago it was decided to use the attraction to raise money for charity and since then thousands of pounds have been collected. "I really don't know what I will be doing with myself next winter," said Peter, who gets up before 5 am every morning to start work on his displays. "Audrey and I will find it very strange; we might even have to go away on holiday. The lights take up a good four months of the year, what with putting them up from October onwards and then dismantling them and storing them away, which takes me well into January, and then of course, we always have to be at home to switch on and off every day at 4.30 and 11 pm." This year's switch-on takes place on Saturday, November 25, at 6 pm. More lights have been added and there will be a number of new features. Father Christmas will also be dropping in to hand out sweets, donated by Bumper to Bumper, and the celebrations, as usual, are sure to draw a cheering crowd of well-wishers. Thanks to sponsorship from K. P. Thomas, children will also be able to post their letters to Father Christmas in a special box, and will once again receive a personalised reply. So don't forget to put full names and addresses on them, so Santa and his helper Donna will know where to find you. Last year's display at St. Mary's Place, Kilgetty, raised the magnificent sum of £11,000 for charity, which was shared between the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Withybush Hospital, and Marie Curie West Wales, and over the years, the staggering sum of over £53,000 has been donated to various charities and good causes. As this is the Thomas' last year, it is hoped bumper sums will be raised, with donations this year again going to the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest - a cause particularly close to the hearts of the community, as not only has Audrey and Peter's daughter Donna been treated at the ward, but also a number of other Kilgetty residents - as well as the Paul Sartori Foundation, which was the first charity supported in 2000. Already this year, a generous donation of £200 has been received from The Three C's Caravan Sales, Crymych. Peter will, however, be continuing his charity work through his Magpies Nest Museum.
